Fruit-gathering bag.



C. A. CARPENTER.

FRUIT GATHERING BAG.

APPLICATION mu) 0503.1914.

1,137,303, Patented Apr. 27, 1915.

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0- A. CARPENTER.

FRUIT GATHERING BAG.

APPLICATION FILED 0c.3. 1914.

Patented Apr. 27, 1915.

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CHARLIE A. CARPENTER, OF \VENATCHEE, WASHINGTON.

FRUIT-GATHERING BAG.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 27, 1915.

Application filed December 3, 1914. Serial No. 875,258.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLIE A. CARPEN- TER, acitizen of the United States, residing at Wenatchee, in the county ofChelan and State of Washington, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Fruit- Gathering Bags, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in fruitpicking bags or receptacles of the class designed to be worn by theoperator and having provision for ready opening of the bottom of the bagto permit of the discharge of the fruit or vegetables or other articlestherefrom.

The present invention has for its objects among others to provide animproved bag or receptacle of this nature embodying a frame of novelshape which, from experience, I have found to be most efficient andpractical, the convex sides thereof being adapted to hug closely to thebody, helping to keep the bag from getting out of place while in use;the outer circle of the frame is of a size and shape to make it easy toput the fruit thereinto and allowing it to be put to the bottom withoutbruising and without inconvenience to the operator. Moreover, the shapeis such that I reduce to a minimum the tendency of the bag to catch ontolimbs, branches and ladders while picking the fruit.

It has for another object to so aflix the straps to the frame that theyshall be in such position as to reduce to a minimum the chances of thehands being hindered while placing fruit, vegetables or other articlesinto the bag. I so place the rings at the rear of the frame as to causethem to tend to balance the bag while in use. The rings at the front ofthe bag, one near the top and one nearer the bottom, are designed foruse with a snap hook carried by the folding flap at the bottom of thebag so as to adapt the latter for use at its maximum or minimumcapacity. This arrangement tends to make it easier for the wearer tooperate the bag. The opening at the bottom of the bag is as large as theextreme transverse dimensions of the bag so as to make it easy for theoperator to empty the bag and also allowing the fruit to be emptied fromthe bag without injury. The shoulder straps are so disposed andconnected with the bag as to allow the easy insertion of the handsthrough the opening in the top of the bag and their disposition insuresthat the load he carried from the shoulder without touching or nearingthe neck, thus reducing to a minimum the inconvenience and discomfort incarrying the load. The belt for holding the bag in position about thebody allows the wearer to stoop while gathering fruit etc. from theground; also while climbing ladders and working among the branches ofthe trees. Further it prevents the bag from tipping while in use.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appearand the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in theappended claims.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings,which, with the numerals of reference marked thereon, form a part ofthis specification, and in which Figure l is a perspective view of myimproved bag showing the manner of attaching and supporting the samefrom the body of the wearer. Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of theframe for supporting the bag at the mouth. Fig. 3 is a detail showingthe lower end of the bag and the manner in which the same is folded.Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail in side elevation showing the manner ofattaching the shoulder strap and belt. Fig. 5 is a detail in elevationshowing the triangular member for supporting the straps at the front ofthe mouth of the bag. Fig. 6 is an enlarged section on the line 66 ofFig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts throughout the severalviews.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a frame of any suitablematerial, preferably of metal of circular cross section having a concaveside 2 adapted to fit closely to the body of the wearer, for comfort andassisting in keeping the bag from getting out of position while in use.The front side is convex, as seen at 3, the frame being of elongatedform and the shape of the outer circle or portion 3 is such as to renderit easy to put fruit into the bag and to the bottom thereof withoutbruising the fruit or inconvenience to the operator. Furthermore, thissnape lessens the tendency of the bag to catch on limbs, branches andladders while picking the fruit.

t is the bag of any suitable material, such as duck, secured to theframe 1 at its upper end, its lower end being provided with an openingas large as the extreme transverse dimensions of the bag for the purposeof making it easy for the operator to empty the bag and to permitemptying the fruit without injury thereto. Vhen in use, the bottom ofthe bag is folded upon the dotted lines 5 and 6, the flap 7 resultingtherefrom being provided with a strap 8 to which is attached in anysuitable manner a snap hook 9. On the front face of the bag at a point agreater or less distance from the bottom there is a ring 10 afiixed inany suitable manner, as by a clip 11, for cooperation with the snaphook. When the bag is designed to be used to its utmost capacity, thesnap hook 9 is engaged within the ring 10, as indicated in Fig. 1. Whenit is desired to use the bag of less capacity, the snap hook is engagedin a ring 12 carried by a suitable clip or the like 13 at the top of thebag, as seen in Fig. 1. This clip 13 is secured in position by means ofthe leather strip 14 which engages over the front member 3 of the frameand secured by rivets or the like 15, as shown. The rivets or the like16 at the center of this leather member serve also to retain the clip 13in place and also serve to secure in place the strap 17 shown also inFig. 1. This strap 17 has its upper end connected with one arm of atriangular member 19, which member is clearly illustrated in Fig. 5.Another arm 20 of this triangular member has secured thereto one end ofa strap 21, while to the other side 22 of said triangular member issecured an end of the strap 23. These straps are adapted to engage overthe shoulders of the wearer, as indicated in Fig. 1. The other end ofthe strap 23 has aflixed thereto a leather strap 24 provided with abuckle 25 and adjustably engaged with a ring 26 affixed to the frame ofthe bag. The strap 21 has attached thereto a similar strap 27 providedwith a buckle and engaging a ring 28 secured to the opposite side of theframe, these rings being attached by means of leather members 29 similarto the leather member 14 above described.

30 is a belt for holding the bag in position close to the body, allowingthe wearer to stoop while gathering fruit etc. from the ground as wellas while climbing ladders and working among the branches of the trees.It also prevents the bag from tipping while in use. This belt has at oneend a buckle 31 so that the same may be adjusted to the girth of thewearer, the other end being provided with a snap hook 32 for engagementwith the ring 28, as seen in Figs. 1 and 4.

The upper end of the bag el may be passed around the frame 1, as seen inFig. 6, and when embraced by the leather members hereinbefore describedand the latter riveted in place, it constitutes an exceedingly strongmeans of attachment of the upper end of the bag and the other members.The upper end of the bag may be stitched, as shown at 33, for additionalsecurity.

From the foregoing, when taken in connection with the annexed drawings,it will be seen that I have devised a simple, yet efiicient and durable,convenient form of bag for gathering fruit, vegetables, etc., and whilethe structural embodiment of the invention as hereinbefore disclosed iswhat I at the present time consider preferable, it is evident that thesame is subject to changes, variations and modifications in detail,proportion of parts etc. without departing from the spirit of theinvention or sacrificing any of its advantages. I, therefore, do notintend to restrict myself to the exact details of construction,proportion of parts etc. as hereinbefore set forth, but reserve theright to make such changes, variations and modifications as comeproperly within the scope of the protection prayed.

It is deemed important that the frame 1 be substantially rigid and thatthe shoulder straps be connected to the ends of said frame and to thefront at substantially the mid center; also that the belt be connectedto the ends of the frame and adjustable independently of the shoulderstraps as it is found that such disposition of these parts distributesthe strain due to the weight of the fruit so that the frame is notunduly distorted and the weight is borne in a great measure by theshoulders, assisted by the belt, yet the wearer has freedom of movementof his body and limbs in picking the fruit and discharging the same fromthe bag.

What'is claimed as new is 1. A bag of the character stated, comprising asubstantially rigid elongated frame having convex and concave sides, abag proper secured thereto, means for holding the bottom of the bag inclosed condition, a clip secured to the front of said frame, a ring insaid clip, a strap extending upwardly from said clip, a triangularmember secured to the upper end of said strap, and shoulder straps eachhaving one end secured to said triangular member and extending inopposite directions, said shoulder straps being crossed and having theirother ends secured to the opposite ends of said frame.

2. A bag of the character stated, comprising a substantially rigidelongated frame having convex and concave sides, a bag proper securedthereto,means embracing the frame at the ends and at the front, ringscarried by said means at the ends of the frame, shoulder straps havingone end adjustably connected to said rings, a belt having its endsadjustably connected to said In testimony whereof I aflix my signaturein presence of two Witnesses.

CHARLIE A. CARPENTER.

rings, and means connecting the other ends Witnesses: of said shoulderstraps to the means at the L. J. JoNEs, front of the frame. S. M.SNYDER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

